A village of great antiquity at the confluence of Peakshole Water and the
River Noe in the
Hope Valley, it was a centre of pre-historic trackways and later Roman
Roads. The Romans most important fort in the Peak District was established
at Navio, only one mile away from Hope.

In 1086, at the time of the Domesday Survey, Hope covered two thirds of the
Royal Forest of the High Peak and was one of the largest parishes in the
country. Hope was one of the earliest centres of Christianity in the area
and the church was the only one mentioned in North Derbyshire
in the survey. People from a wide area around the village came to be married
at the church for many years after the Norman Conquest.

On the northern side of the village, Win Hill and Lose Hill are very
prominent features and there is a ancient legend about how they acquired
their names from a battle in 626. Rivals King Edwin of
Northumbria was camped on Win Hill and King Cuicholm of Wessex on Lose Hill.
The army from Wessex was much the larger, so Edwin ordered his men to build
a stone wall around the summit of the hill. When the battle commenced both
sets of troops advanced, but the superior numbers soon started to push
Edwin’s forces back. Once the order to retreat came, the Wessex troops
sensing victory, charged forward, only to be crushed to death by a hail of
boulders heaved down the hill by Edwin’s men to win the battle.

A place of worship has stood on the site of The Parish Church of St Peter
for over 1000 years; the present church having been in existence for in
excess of 700 years. Light and airy inside, the church has much to interest
the visitor. A very rare ‘Breeches Bible’, open in a glass case on the wall,
displays the reference to Adam and Eve wearing ‘breeches’ rather than
‘aprons’.

Outside the church there are numerous fascinating Gargoyles round the roof,
‘hideous’ to some! A very worn, but recognisable carving of a Celtic Face is
on the north wall of the Church tower. Close by, is the Eccles Cross that
previously stood on Eccles Hill to mark a place of worship. On the southern
side of the church, standing on either side of the path are a Saxon Cross
and an old Market Cross.

Hope Sheep Dog Trials and Agricultural Society celebrated its 50th
anniversary in 1999, but Agricultural Shows go back to 1853. In 1944, the
Hope Sheep Dog Club was formed with the sole aim of providing support for
the Red Cross in the Second World War. After operating independently for
five years, it merged with the Agricultural Society and the first joint show
took place. The show is extremely popular and takes place on August Bank
Holiday Monday every year.

Hope Hall, now the Old Hall Hotel, was the home of the Balguy family. In
1715, after John Balguy had obtained a charter for a weekly market, a cattle
and sheep market were held in the grounds of the hall. The market eventually
closing down because of the recent Foot and Mouth epidemic, with the land
being made available for housing development.

All that remains of Hope Castle pre-dates
Peveril Castle at Castleton by about 100 years. All that remains, however,
of Hope Castle is an earthen mound that can be seen from Pindale Road. By
the bridge is a well-preserved Pinfold where stray animals were once kept.
Further along the road, are the Cement Works, the area’s major employer.

On the southern side of the church, the old school is now utilised for
pre-school activities. Adjacent is Loxley Hall, built in 1900, from a
bequest - when instructions were left that a reading room should be provided
with copies of current papers and periodicals and a fire lit as required for
the benefit of the villagers. In between the hall and
shop premises is
Daggers House, a former public house.

The village is well served with shops to suit the needs of local people and
visitors alike. The Courtyard is home to a small number of craft shops and a
pleasant modern café, where you can buy your true love a heart shaped scone
with jam and cream! The
Hope Gallery carries a wide range of quality goods and displays some of the
work of the proprietor, Alan Glasby, a former Colonel in the Bomb Disposal
Unit.

On the western, side of the village the Education Service for the
Peak National Park
is based at Losehill Hall, and
Hope Valley College, built in 1958 is on the Castleton Road. The Railway
Station, for the popular Hope Valley Line, is on the other side of the
village.

The Well Dressings take place in July each year, when everyone is encouraged
to take part in the preparations for the event, visitors included.

No
recommendation of any establishment is implied by inclusion on this
website.

PLACES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE AREA

Ladybower and the Derwent Valley is a very popular area for visitors. The dams
in the valley were used by Dr Barnes Wallis and his team to test his
bouncing bombs, and the film ‘The Dambusters’ was partly shot here.

Edale where the
Nag’s Head Inn is the traditional starting point of the 270 mile Pennine Way
Trail, as it winds its way north to the Scottish border at Kirk Yetholm. The
Peak District National Park’s Field Head Visitor Centre is also here.

REFRESHMENTS

Woodroffe Arms Hotel (Tel 01433 620351)named after an influential local family,
this ancient pub provides a wide range of traditional food served at
lunchtimes and in the evenings throughout the year. Some outside seating and
a play area for children. Accommodation available.

Woodbine Café (Tel 01433 621407)this delightful little café was once a pub
named the Blacksmiths Arms and the building dates back to the 17th century.
Hot and cold food mostly cooked on the premises is served. Open daily.

THE DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE AND
THE PEAK DISTRICT GUIDE

Provides a
wide range of features with heritage trails and
detailed countryside walks, through some of the most scenically
attractive countryside in the UK.

Apart from a steady climb up to Losehill Farm, this walk is relatively easy
and manages to pack in plenty of variety as well as magnificent scenery.

The path descends gently from Losehill Farm with glorious views over the
Hope
Valley to Losehill Hall, the training centre for the Peak District National
Park.
Set in 27 acres of parkland, gardens and woodland the Victorian Hall is of
considerable architectural interest.

Continue through a series of fields before following a farm track, passing
an outdoor activity centre on the way, to join
Hollowford Road
that leads to Castleton. Apart from the magnificent scenery, Castleton is
famous for its four show caverns of which only Peak Cavern is a true cave.

Castleton is soon left behind and Peakshole Water, named after its source at
Peak Cavern, is followed for a short distance. After crossing a railway line
used by the Cement Works, it is not long before
Pindale Road
is reached.
Look out for the well-preserved Pinfold by the bridge over Peakshole Water
as you return to Hope.